I had a tough time deciding where I would put this in my list. It's such an influential and classic album that it deserves to be high, but there are so many albums I enjoy listening to more. With that being said, I love this album.

'Hammer Smashed Face' and Chris Barnes at his "inhumanly gutteral" vocals. That's all that needs to be said. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but at the time (1992), wouldn't these have been the most gutteral death metal vocals ever recorded? That glorious tune introduced me to Cannibal Corpse and death metal. It remains one of my favorite CC tracks to date. Such a brutal tune with such deep, monstrous lyrics, how can it not go down as one the best ever? 'I Cum Blood' and 'Addicted To Vaginal Skin' follow the opener strongly. ICB's slower, groovy rythym is set off by some great double bass and a very cool solo at the end. 'ATVS' is another one of my all time faves. Such as shame it isn't played live much anymore. The little bass loop before the 2nd verse is great. The intro of the interview w/ the Genesee River Killer Arthur Shawcross is a great way to start a tune about vaginal vivisection, lol. With the amazing quality of the 1st 3 tunes, there aren't a lot of highlights throughout the rest of the album, IMO. I do really enjoy track 8, however, 'Post Mortal Ejaculation'. Chris rips out some great screams towards the end in that one. Other than that one, the rest of the album is pretty average to my ears.

The lyrics are another reason this album is a classic. Besides the songs listed, tunes like 'Necropedophile' and 'Entrails Ripped From A Virgin's Cunt' are absolutely quite graphic and controversial. Hence, Cannibal Corpse couldn't play material from their ist 3 albums in Germany for quite a while. Gotta love people that take stuff too seriously! If the rest could come even close to the first 3 tracks, this one would have placed much higher. Overall though, still a classic.

If you liked Under the Sign of the Iron Cross, then check out Bloody Blasphemy. The Blackened Death style on Iron Cross (and Passiondale before it) is a return to their sound on BB. All of their albums are really good, but if you liked Iron Cross, then Bloody Blasphemy & Passiondale are your best bets from there. If you like melodeath, then make sure to check out The Toxic Touch as well. And then from there, every other album.

If you liked Under the Sign of the Iron Cross, then check out Bloody Blasphemy. The Blackened Death style on Iron Cross (and Passiondale before it) is a return to their sound on BB. All of their albums are really good, but if you liked Iron Cross, then Bloody Blasphemy & Passiondale are your best bets from there. If you like melodeath, then make sure to check out The Toxic Touch as well. And then from there, every other album.